Thursday, November 21, 2013

From those first tentative steps towards purchasing a new home in Ottawa, you’ve come a long way! As you unpack your boxes, position your
furniture and hang your artwork, you can feel this home becoming your own.
You’re probably a little tired – but the exhilaration is enough to keep you
going.

Ideally, this feeling is strengthened with the confidence
that your Ottawa home has been built to meet both building codes and your own
exacting specifications. In most cases, when you’ve chosen your home builder
after proper research, and completed a thorough pre-delivery inspection (PDI)
as I discussed in my previous blogs, you can rest easy that things are as they
should be.

Sometimes, however, items are missed during that initial
inspection. When this happens, it’s important for you to understand the proper
course of action to take. Ontario’s Tarion Warranty Program is structured to
deal with Ottawa homeowner complaints in a very specific manner; in order to
take advantage of the program, it’s necessary that you fill out the appropriate
forms and meet set deadlines.

Details of the process are outlined in A Guide to Your New
Home Warranty, provided by Tarion to all new home buyers. As much as I urge my
clients to become familiar with this guide, the truth is that amid the flurry
of your Ottawa home search, purchase and move, it can be a lot of information
to digest. Here are some major points to remember:

There are one year, two year and seven year warranties that
apply to various aspects of your home.

If you discover a problem with your home within the first
year of living there, you have two opportunities to file a warranty form. The
30-Day Form must be filed within 30 days of taking possession, while the
Year-End Form must be filed within the last 30 days of the first year.

Naturally, it’s in your best interest to submit a report
sooner rather than later, so I recommend paying particular attention to
construction details during your first couple of weeks of occupancy. As well,
some Ottawa homeowners who missed the chance to hire a home inspector during
the PDI may choose to do so prior to the end of the year for an added sense of
security.

New home ownership isn’t without its responsibilities; but attention
to detail now will pay off in the long run. Here’s to a wonderful first year!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Ottawa-Gatineau
has earned the first-place ranking for best Canadian city as ranked by
MoneySense magazine for 2011 and 2012, in fact, Ottawa has taken it a total of five times in the
past six years. As far as cities go, we’re the one to beat.For the 2013 results click here.

What is it that makes Ottawa-Gatineau so appealing? The
MoneySense study ranks 180 Canadian cities, taking into account such diverse
factors as arts and culture, crime rate, household income, medical doctors per
capita, rates of employment and air quality. We had consistently good scores in
nearly every category – including, believe it or not, better-than-average marks
for weather!

Now, I know that not many of us have the luxury of choosing
the city in which we live strictly according to the appeal of its image.
(Hello, Honolulu!) Most of us have to work our jobs, families and pocketbooks
into the equation. On top of that, a lot of us feel deep emotional connections
to the places we live, and no study is going to determine whether we stay or
go. We Ottowans already know firsthand what we love about our Ottawa Home.

However, if you’re toying with the idea of home ownership in
Ottawa, it’s great to know that you’re about to buy in one of the most
desirable markets in the country. It’s often been said that your Ottawa home is
probably the biggest financial investment you’ll ever make – and you’ll want to
make that investment in a place that will hold its value over time.

While Ottawa home prices here are higher than many in
smaller communities, they compare favourably with other large cities in Canada.
According to MoneySense, this region has an average home price of $352,020. Given the enviable average household income in Ottawa ($98,980), this
is pretty affordable. Contrast these prices with Vancouver, where it will take
you $882,000 to net you an “average” home!

Here’s what I take away from the MoneySense study: whether
you’re Ottawa-born and bred or a relative newcomer, you can feel confident
about purchasing a home in Ottawa, the city you already call home.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

You probably already suspect this, but random guesswork
really isn’t the best method of choosing a Ottawa builder. (Just remember how
long it’s taken you to find the right hairdresser.) So, how can you go about
ensuring that you’re putting your eggs in the right basket?

First of all, you can narrow down your options fairly
quickly by looking at your list of must-haves. Blogs and the Bennett Property Shop website are terrific for zeroing in on possible builders according to
neighbourhood, housing type and budget. Some Ottawa builders specialize in
features you may be looking for, such as wide lots, green technology or R-2000
construction. The Internet is another excellent tool for locating builders who
meet your requirements.

But making the shortlist is the easy part. When it comes to
actual research, the most important piece of advice I give my clients is this:
don’t be afraid to be nosy!

In your day-to-day conversations with friends, acquaintances
and co-workers, dig around. You may not realize it, but you have a network of
important contacts at your disposal – even if no one in your immediate circle
has had recent experience with a builder, they all know someone who does.

When you speak with a Ottawa builder’s sales representative,
work from a list of prepared questions: for instance, how open is the builder
to adapting their plans to suit your personal needs? What is the builder’s
rating for after-sales service with the Tarion Warranty Program? Ask for
references from previous clients.

When you tour a model home, inspect every nook and cranny:
if the model can’t withstand the closest scrutiny, you can be fairly sure that
your home won’t, either. If there are no models, request a tour of a customer’s
home. As wonderful as the plans may look on paper, you need solid evidence of
good workmanship.

Talk to people in your prospective Ottawa neighbourhood. If
you’re too shy to knock on doors, stop and chat with people on the street.
You’ll find that most are glad to share their stories, whether they love their
builder to bits or encountered issues. Be sure to speak with more than one
Ottawa home owner.

And remember: whatever may have happened to the cat, there
are some situations where curiosity pays!

Monday, November 4, 2013

I’ve always found the rise and fall of housing trends inOttawa incredibly interesting. Of course, staying on top of these patterns is
also a vital aspect of our career. One surging trend in the Ottawa housing
market is the in-law suite – and I believe this one has real staying power

“In-law suite” is the name most commonly given to
self-contained apartments within a larger home, whether or not the occupants
happen to be in-laws. Family custom is, however, one of the main reasons for
the growing popularity of these secondary suites. While there have always been
Ottawans who value multi-generational living, their number is steadily
increasing as Ottawa continues to receive the most family-related immigration
in Canada. For many of our newcomers, living in close proximity to grandparents
or extended family is the cultural norm.

The other significant group interested in secondary suites
are those who have realized the terrific income potential of such spaces. With
its many contract workers and post-secondary students, Ottawa has no shortage
of renters. While zoning by-laws make secondary suites a no-no in some
jurisdictions, the City of Ottawa (excepting the former Village of Rockcliffe
Park) has no such restrictions, as long as by-law conditions are followed.

More often than not, in-law suites are basement apartments,
although they’re occasionally located on the second or third floors. They
possess private entrances, bathrooms, kitchens and sometimes laundry
facilities.

Renovating an existing Ottawa home to accommodate a separate
suite can be expensive, and unforeseen complications may arise. The beautiful
thing about including a secondary suite when purchasing a new home is that you
can have everything built to your specifications, rather than being limited by
the existing structure. Some builders make a specialty of in-law suite homes,
with a portfolio of available plans, but others are happy to alter standard
plans for a fee.

A few things to consider:

•Basement
apartments aren’t noted for their great natural light. Invest in great
lighting, making good use of pot lights. Where possible, install
larger-than-typical windows.

•Include a
bathtub in the bathroom to appeal to as many tenants as possible.

•Features
such as a double driveway, soundproofing panels and separate gas and electrical
meters can make everyone’s lives easier.

With a thoughtfully designed suite, the income – or the
in-laws – will be sure to roll in to your Ottawa Home!Visit www.bennettpros.com for all your real estate needs.

Bennett Property Shop Realty

About Us

The Bennett Property Shop Realty is a one-of-a-kind boutique real estate brokerage in Ottawa, Canada, whose business philosophy is based on exceptional personal service, leadership, industry-leading innovative policies, and practices. At our core, we're a family-run business and our sales representatives are an extension of that family. Our team of professionals wear the Bennett name with pride with a full administrative staff, customer care department, and management team. The sales representatives on our team are supported by each department to ensure that our clients are serviced with a 5 star rating.

Our broker, team leader, founder, and shinning-star, Marnie Bennett, is an award-winning marketer who is one of Canada's most highly-regarded Real Estate marketing and sales consultants. With a team of 20 elite sales representatives who routinely go above and beyond the call of duty.Buying, selling, investing or marketing; residential or commercial; new construction or resale properties: wherever your interests lie, we have the expertise. Our sales volume speaks for itself with over 9,000 homes sold for top dollar since 1994 and over $3.1 Billion in residential sales.

In addition to our stellar 20 member real estate team, we have a committed marketing department that services builders and developers with innovative and result-driven marketing strategies. As a mark of both our initiative and achievement, we've forged ongoing business partnerships with top builders and developers from Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal.